The Ultimate Guide to Chemical-Free Pest & Plant Care

Traditional pesticides and synthetic fertilizers may offer a quick fix, but they come with long-term baggage. Chemical buildup in soil can wreck root systems over time, and those harsh ingredients? They can irritate your skin, mess with your indoor air, and cause real harm to pets and pollinators.

Switching to chemical-free means:

• Creating a safer space for your household (furry friends included)
• Supporting long-term plant health with fewer side effects
• Minimizing your environmental impact with every watering can
• Building a more balanced, resilient little ecosystem right inside your home

The hidden dangers of common pesticides:

Many popular pesticides contain chemicals like neonicotinoids and glyphosate , which are known to harm pollinators, leach into soil, and disrupt local ecosystems. Studies have shown that these chemicals can also trigger allergies and respiratory issues in pets and humans. By going chemical-free, you’re choosing a cleaner, safer environment for all.

The bottom line: plants didn’t evolve alongside synthetic sprays—and neither did we.

The usual suspects? They show up fast and love to party if left unchecked. Here’s how to handle them without nuking your entire shelf:

🪰 Fungus Gnats

→ Let the top couple inches of soil dry between waterings, use yellow sticky traps, and treat with neem oil.

Extra tip : Skip top-watering for a bit—they love soggy conditions.

🕷 Spider Mites

→ Boost humidity (they hate it), rinse leaves with lukewarm water, and apply a botanical oil spray. Neem, rosemary, and thyme oils all do the trick without coating your home in chemicals.

🦟 Aphids & Mealybugs

→ Gently wipe leaves with a damp cloth, snip any heavily infested stems, and spot-treat with a plant-safe, pet-safe pesticide if things escalate.

Consistency is your best defense. A weekly once-over—checking under leaves, removing dead debris, and cleaning foliage—makes a huge difference.

Here’s the secret: the best pest control is not needing it in the first place.

Prevention is the unsung hero of plant care, and it starts with creating the right environment:

• Healthy Soil = Healthy Plants : Use a quality, well-draining mix and avoid overwatering. (Looking at you, heavy-handed waterers.)
• Airflow Matters : Keep plants spaced out for good air circulation—crowded plants trap moisture and welcome pests.
• Quarantine New Arrivals : As much as you want to introduce that new Monstera to the rest of the plant crew, give it a week or two solo. Pests hitch rides.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about setting your plants up to handle whatever comes their way.

We’re all for DIY solutions, but sometimes you just want a plant care product that works—without compromising your values. That’s why we partnered with Arber.

Here’s why we’re obsessed:

• Planet-Friendly : All formulas are organic and OMRI Listed ®, so you can feel good about what’s going into your soil (and out into the world).
• Pet & People Safe : No sketchy ingredients—just science-backed goodness derived from nature.
• Biotech-Backed : Think good bacteria, fermentation extracts, and botanical oils. No mystery ingredients, no greenwashing.

From pest control to immunity boosters, Arber has become a go-to in our own routines. It's plant care that actually cares.

• Start simple : You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Swap in a natural product here and there as you go.
• Read your labels : Just because it says “natural” doesn’t mean it’s safe. Look for recognizable ingredients and certifications like OMRI .
• Be patient : Organic care builds long-term plant resilience. You might not see instant results—and that’s okay. Slow and steady wins the jungle.